Savage || Lee Haechan

Chapter 13 | "nothing but trouble"

Haechan sat on the couch in the main room, unmoving as he waited nervously to hear any news about Minji. He didn't know why he felt so concerned, he'd wanted her dead for years now, but he felt responsible, and for once he was hoping she was alive. He thought back to all the snarky comments he'd made to her, the way she'd always held her own when he tried to push her buttons. It felt strange to imagine life without their bickering.

His throughs were interrupted as doors from the bedrooms upstairs slammed shut and a chorus of rapid footsteps made their way down the stairs and into the main room.

Just as Haechan turned to see who was coming, he was all but lifted out of his seat by a very angry Sungchan.

"I knew I couldn't trust you." He growled to the older boy, gripping his shirt collar and slamming him into the wall. "I have half a mind to tear you to pieces right now!"

"I didnt mean for her to-"

"I don't give two shits what you meant." Sungchan yelled, cutting him off as he harshly pushed him into the wall again. "She could die because of you! Because you couldn't fucking watch your back and because she had to risk her life to save yours!"

"Sungchan." A voice interjected right before the tall boy could punch Haechan, his fist already drawn back.

He turned, seeing Jeno and Jaemin, who had run down the stairs with him, standing there.

"What?" He spat out, his eyes glaring into Haechan's.

"Stop." Jeno continued, his eyes darkly glaring at Haechan over Sungchan's shoulder as he tried to reason with the younger boy. "Minji wouldn't want you to do this."

"I don't think she'd mind." Sungchan replied through gritted teeth. "You know how much he torments her."

"Sungchan, don't." Jaemin said. "We don't need another person in the medical room, they're dealing with enough already."

With a angry growl, Sungchan dropped Haechan's collar, the older boy slumping into the wall.

"You're probably hoping she's dead anyway." Haechan's eyes widened in shock as Sungchan turned and walked away, heading to the training room.

"Thanks, guys." Haechan muttered out as he collected himself.

"We didn't do it for you." Jeno said lowly, all three of them angrily glaring at Haechan. "We did it for Minji. She wanted this merge to work, and if she lives through this, the last thing she'd want is to wake up to Sungchan having beaten you to a pulp."

"Figures that she'd get hurt when she was with you." Jaemin scoffed out angrily. "You're nothing but trouble."

"I didn't do anything." Haechan replied. "She didn't need to take the hit."

Jeno and Jaemin shared a look, scoffing at the third boy with dark expressions on their faces.

"Here's one thing you should know about Minji," Jeno started, taking a step closer. "She will always take the hit. Always. That's what she does. If you're part of her team, then she'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe, personal feelings aside."

Haechan gulped as he processed Jeno's words.

"That girl has survived bullets, knives, poison, you name it. She's put herself in the way of danger more times that I can count. And she's bled more than anyone in this house, but she keeps doing it to protect us." Jaemin said lowly, his eyes burning with intensity. "So maybe think about that next time you decide to pick on her or say some dumb shit to piss her off."

With that, the two boys turned and walked out, leaving Haechan alone with his own worry and guilt.

- - -

"Haechan, wake up."

The boy groaned as someone shook his body, pulling him out from his sleep.

"What do you want?" He groaned, just able to make out Chenle looking down at him.

"I just thought you'd want to know, Minji is awake."

Haechan shot bolt upright, nearly smacking heads with Chenle in the process.

"She's alive?!"

"Yeah, talking to Taeyong right now."

"I've got to go see her." He quickly climbed out of bed and rushed to the door but Chenle grabbed his arm to stop him. "What?"

"Don't wake the others, even I'm not supposed to know yet." He whispered.

Haechan nodded, flashing the boy a smile as he tiptoed out of his room. He ran as quickly and quietly as he possible could through the house before making his way to the medical room.

As he pushed open the door, Taeyong instantly spun around, the older boy sitting next to Minji's bed.

"Hey Taeyong, can I see her?"

"How did you... Chenle saw, didn't he?" Taeyong sighed, seeing Haechan nod his head. "Yeah sure, I was just heading out. Don't stay long, she needs rest."

"Got it."

He smiled at Taeyong as the older boy left the room.

"No way are you one of the first people to visit me." She said with a disbelieving smile. "Had to see for yourself, hmm? Sorry babes but I'm not quite dead yet."

"A bit too soon to be joking about dying, don't you think?" He mumbled, taking a seat next to her.

"Well I'm alive, aren't I?"

"That you are." He nodded with a concerned smile. "How are you feeling?"

"THE Lee Haechan is asking how I'm feeling? Is there a glitch in the matrix or are you actually concerned?"

"Stop that." He replied, rolling his eyes at her sarcasm. "I'm serious. You literally took a knife for me today and almost died because of it. I'm not that much of an asshole that I wouldn't come check up on you."

"Well, I'm doing alright, sore as hell but I'll manage. Shotaro said the surgery went well and I'm all stitched up. I have to stay here for the next few days but if all goes well, I'm be back on my feet in a week." She reported with a small smile.

"Well that's good, I'm glad you're okay."

"You're glad I'm okay? What is happening right now, since when are you happy that I'm alive? Are you staring to actually not hate me?"

"Ew no of course I hate you, dumbass." He replied quickly. "It's just... I wouldn't have anyone to fight with if you were gone. Just wanted to make sure that I'd still have someone to pick on back at school."

He quickly rose from his seat, walking to the door.

"But I'm glad you're alive, loser." He said, turning to face her. "And... thank you. For real."

She looked at him with a genuine smile on her face, dipping her head to him before he ducked out of the room.